Stalking has become increasingly recognised in the general population, with some groups, including mental health professionals, being at particular risk. The behaviour has attracted a lot of interest in the media, much of it voyeuristic and sensational, but behind the frequent headlines lies a common and persistent behaviour which can wreck people's lives and, not infrequently, end in violence or death.

This is an excellent book which evolved from discussions held by the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry (GAP) Committee on Psychiatry and the Law, whose members had a role in reviewing and editing each chapter. This process led to a consistency of style and distillation of information that adds to the relevance of its content. From Paul Mullen's candid foreward, from which the above quotation was taken, to the detailed and highly readable content, the text provides an excellent, up-to-date review of the theoretical and practical aspects of stalking behaviour. Topics include same-gender stalking, immigrant victims of stalking, juvenile aspects of stalking, false victimisation and an update on cyberstalking and celebrity stalking.

Divided into four parts, the book covers clinical aspects of stalking, interface with the law, and stalking in different populations and settings. Many of the chapters include the expert opinion of the GAP committee. I initially found this a little off-putting, as it might be considered to give undue influence to the opinions of the committee, to the detriment of those of the reader and other research. However, as I proceeded through the book, I came to appreciate the authority, validity and clarity with which these opinions were expressed. Case vignettes illustrate particular scenarios, bringing the subject matter to life. These are usually followed by a challenging and balanced debate concerning assessment and management strategies. This is particularly successful in the chapter on competence and criminal responsibility.

The lack of duplication with other texts, and the unique subject matter covered, reflect the progress made in the field over the past decade in relation to research, assessment and management of stalking victimisation. Any quibbles? There is a whole chapter devoted to victim perspectives, but there could have been more on perpetrators and their management. Overall, however, I would highly recommend this book for its scope and clarity.